STIGLER (KFSM)-- A Stigler High School senior was not allowed to walk with his class at their baccalaureate ceremony on Sunday (May 15) because of what he was wearing.
Keaton Buffington was wearing jeans, boots and a button down shirt under his cap and gown.
“He said, ‘They're not going to let me walk’, and I said, ‘What's wrong,’ and he said, ‘because of my jeans and my boots, they're not going to let me walk,'” Keaton’s mom, Sheryl Watson, said.
Watson said a teacher told Keaton he could not walk into the ceremony with his class, so he and his family left.
“By the time they told Keaton it was 10 minutes until the service started,” Watson said. “There was no way I could go get him anything.”
Stigler schools superintendent, Monty Guthrie, said the dress code had been discussed many times.
“In class and in group sessions with only seniors and there were texts sent out as well to the parents explaining that the males would be required to wear slacks and at tie,” Guthrie said.
All of the students wore a gown that covered most of their outfit, but Guthrie said it's the principle of the matter.
“Is that important,” Guthrie asked. “That's the question here. What is important is the tone you set when you're wearing a cap and gown. We prefer to represent this as a very formal setting.”
Watson said she didn’t expect special treatment. She said she just wishes it was handled differently.
“If they were that upset about it reprimand him in another way,” Watson said. “Don't send him away from the service. I can't get this moment back. That's what I’m upset about.”
Stigler's graduation ceremony is Tuesday (May 17), and Watson said Keaton will be there dressed accordingly.